Ornamental wheel disk structure



Aug. 20. 1940. G. A. LYON ORNAMENTAL WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE 4 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 26. 1934 VE' UF a: 1,662! (yaw.

Illllm Aug. 20, 1940. e. A. LYON I ORNAIENTAL WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE Ofigiua], Filed Nov. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ceorye Q/rz acyavzi Aug. 20. 1940' G. A. LYON ORNAMENTAL WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE ori i ri ed Nov 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .fl 0 (Z M. w e m a w Aug. 20, 1940. G. A. LYON ORNAMENTAL WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE Originai Filed OV- 26. 1934 -4-5hoets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,699 Renewed March 27, 1939 16 Claims. (01. sol-3'1) This invention relates to an ornamental wheel disk structure, and more particularly to an ornamental disk and wheel structure wherein the disk may be easily snapped into, and may be 5 pried equally easily out of, retained engagement with the wheel.

An object of this invention is to provide an ornamental disk and wheel structure wherein the disk is not only of an economical construction,

but may be easily attached with a tight fit on the outer side of the wheel, and may beequally easily detached from the wheel when it is, desired to have access to the usual fastening elements for securing the wheel to an axle part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination ornamental disk and wheel structure in which the disk covers substantially the entire outer side of the wheel and is adapted to be easily snapped into, as well as to be pried equally easily out of, engagement with the body part of the wheel.-

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of an ornamental disk and wheel structure wherein a unitary disk may be snapped into a detachable retained engagement with the body part of the wheel and into a cushioned engagement with the rim part of the wheel, so as to cover substantially the entire outer side of the wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- ,30 vide a disk having yieldable cushioning means on its outer portion for cooperation with the rim part of the wheel, and which means 1% brought into effective engagement with the "rim part by the snapping of the disk into retained engagement 35 with the wheel, which engagement is of such character that the resilient means of the outer portion of the disk is prevented from recovering its normal position, and is thereby caused to exert a resilient or anti-rattling pressure on the wheel 40 rim. A still further object of the invention relates to the provision of a disk for cofveringsubstantially the entire outer side' of the wheel: including m rim and body parts, which disk is adapted'to be snapped axially into retained engagement with the body part and to be pried loose from the wheel by a prying tool inserted between an outer portion of the disk and the adjacent edge of'the rim so that the tool may bear on a flange of the rim as a fulcrum point in the act of prying the disk loose from the wheel.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided an ornamental wheel 55 disk structure wherein the disk is disposed in- Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by wardly of the wheel rim and covers substantially the entire outer side of the wheel, the center portion of the disk and the wheel body having associated therewith spring means so arranged that the disk may be snapped axially into a tight 5 retained engagement with the wheel, and the outer portion of the disk being provided with cushioning means for engaging the rim, and which is placed under compression when the disk is snapped into retained engagement on the wheel; 10 the retaining means being concealed by the disk, but yet being of such character that the disk may be detached from thewheel by a prying tool inserted between an outer portion of the disk and an adjacent edge of the wheel rim so as to bear 15 on a flange of the rim as a fulcrum point during the actof prying the disk loose from its sprin retainedengagement with the wheel.

Another feature of the invention relates to the central construction of the disk, which is illus- 20- trated herein in a number of difierent modifications of the invention, but in each of which the central portion of the disk is so formed as to hate spring elements projecting from the wheel body snapped therein during an axial movement of 25 the disk toward the wheel.

Another feature of the invention relates to the manner in which the central portion of the disk, which cooperates with the spring means on the wheel body, is concealed. Several ways of doing this are-illustrated and disclosed herein.

Another feature 'of the invention relates to the utilization of the spring elements on the wheel bodyto aid in initially aligning the disk with the 'wheel prior to the act of snapping the disk into retained engagement with the wheel and to aid thereafter inprev'enting rotation of the disk relative to the wheel.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully "appear from the following de- 40 scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several em:

bodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an ornamental wheel and disk structure embodying the features of this the arrows;v

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to'Fig. 2 illustrating the manner in which the disk is snapped axially into retained engagement with the wheel, the disk being illustrated in dotted lines in its disengaged position and in full lines in its retained position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the manner in which the disk is pried loose from the wheel by means of a tool inserted between an outer portion of the disk and an adjacent edge of the wheel rim so as to bear on a flange of the rim as a fulcrum point during the act of prying loose the disk, the disk being illustrated in dotted lines in its retained position, andin full lines in its disengaged position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention in which the disk is provided with an inner flange suitably secured thereto for cooperation with the spring means on the wheel body;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of spring retaining element which has its free end formed into a hook for aiding in the initial alignment of the disk with the wheel, the disk being illustrated in full lines in its engaged position and in dotted lines in a disengaged position just previous to the snapping of the disk into its retained position;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view in which the central portion of the unitary'disk is made in the form of a hub cap which is anchored to the disk so as to become a permanent part thereof;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a still further modification of the invention, in which a disk-like plate is secured to the central portion of the disk, so as to become an integral part thereof, for concealing the spring means of'the wheel body when the same is in cooperation with the central portion of the disk; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another modification of the invention 11-. lustratlng the outer portion of the disk as being provided with a notch for accommodating the end of a prying tool.

I have illustrated in the above referred to drawings a number of modifications of my invention, in each of which there is provided an ornathe fulcrum point.

In the first form of my invention which is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings the reference character l0 designates generally a drop center rim or rim part of a wheel which also includes a central or body part generally designated by the reference character ii. The body part of the wheelis secured to the rim so as to become substantially an integral part thereof, by means of riveting, welding or the like. The rim part is adapted to accommodate a conventional tire which is designated generally by the reference character I 2 in Figures 3 and 4.

The body part II has a central fastening flange l3 which is offset inwardly toward the median plane of the wheel. The flange i3 is adapted to be secured by the usual fastening elements or bolts,

duction basis it is not at all uncommon to allow a slight tolerance with regard to the location of the hub flange l3 relative to the median plane of the wheel. Hence it necessarily follows that there is a slight variation in the relativetransverse locations of the rim and the central or fastening part of the wheel in commercial wheel structures. This variable must be taken into consideration in building a disk for covering an outer side of the wheel so as to have a tight fit on the wheel. An ornamental disk is, of course, desirable in a wheel structure of thistype if the central bolt means used to secure the wheel to the axle part are to be covered.

Now I propose to provide a disk which will eliminate the necessity of giving the body part II a high grade finish, and which can be applied to the wheel to cover substantially the entire outer side of the wheel including all of the body part without the necessity of using a separate hub cap at the center.

At present it is the practice to, use a separate body cap at the center, cooperable with spring elements such'as the spring elements ll, for concealing the end of the axle l6 and the fastening bolts or elementsv I4. This hub cap is designed to be snapped into and out of engagement with the spring elements, and must of necessity be removable with ease so as to permit of access to the fastening elements whenever it is desired to remove the wheel from the axle part.

I also propose to provide a disk for covering the entire body part I l which is adapted to have all of the advantages of a removable hub cap but which in addition has other advantages, such for example as that relating to its removal and to its covering of the joint between the body part II and the rim l0.

Another advantage, of course, relates to the cushioned support of this unitary detachable disk on the rim of the wheel; the cushion being maintained under compression by the snapping of the disk into its retained position over the body part.

I shall now proceed to describe in detail the first form of disk which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although it is not necessarily the preferred form of those which I have illustrated.

At this time I wish to call attentionto the fact that in all of the diiferent illustrated modifications of the invention, I have, for the purpose of simplifying the description of the invention, illustrated the same wheel structure. I have also used the same reference numerals on the wheel part in all of these illustrations.

In these illustrations; the rim i0 is illustrated as being of the drop center type, and includes a base flange l8 connected to intermediate opposite flanges i9-l9, which flanges terminate at their.

outer extremities'in the outer edges 20-40 of the rim.

The base flange i8 of the wheel rim part is ii lustrated as being connected by means of rivets 2! to a lateral flange 22 on the body part II of the wheel. Naturally, in the formation of the body part II as well as in the act of riveting it to the rim part, certain manufacturing tolerances are permitted, which tolerances, as I have mentioned hereinbefore, must be taken into consideration in the construction of the wheel so that the wheel disk will not rattle when the wheel is in use.

Also, there is a certain amount of variation in the construction and location of the central spring elements II, which are usually five in number and are spaced equidistantly from each other about the axis of the'wheel. Each of these spring elements H. has onekf its ends secured-by means of a rivet 23 to the entral fastening portion l3 of the wheel. The fr e end of each of these elements I1 is formed into a hook-like portion 24 which is resilient and -is adapted to cooperate with an inclined surface 25 of the body part in holding my novel disk in retained-position on the wheel. In the first form of the invention, the disk is designated generally by the reference character 28, and is of such a diameter as to cover all of the outer side of the body part II of the wheel. This disk 23 is disposed inwardly of the rim l8 and covers all of the space inside of the base flange |8 of the rim part It.

The outer periphery or portion of the disk 28 is provided with a turned edge 29 which embraces the smaller section of a rubber cushioning bead 30 which has across section resembling that of a numeral 8. The larger section of this rubber cushioning bead 3|] is adapted to be pressed into engagement with a surface of the rim between the base flange l8 and the intermediate flange IS on the outer side of the wheel. Both the largeand small sectionsof this bead are formed hollow, and the smaller section has a spring wire ring3| which is expansible to hold the smaller section of the bead in place under the turned edge 29 of the disk.

In applying this head to the outer portion of the disk 28, the smaller section of the bead is forced under the turned edge of the disk, and the wire ring 3| then expands by reason of its own resiliency to hold the bead in tight cooperation with the turned edge 28.

The head 3|! may be of either the type shown and claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent entitled Ornamental wheel disc," filed December 8,1934, Serial 110,756,569, or that shown and claimed in my copending application entitled Bead for ornamental wheel disc and method of applying same, filed March 28, 1935, Serial No. 13,402.

In order to enhance the appearance of the outer portion of the disk, I provide an ornamental ring or bead 32 which is preferably split at 33 in Figure 1, and is of a curved transverse cross section. Thisbead is adapted to have its inner peripheral edge 34 snapped over tangs or fingers 35 pressed out from the side wall of the disk 28. The outer peripheral edge 36 of this'bead is curved around the turned edge 28 of the disk so as to conceal the same, and thus materially add to the appearance of the disk.

By reason of the location of the .outer extremity of the 'disk as illustrated, I am enabled to conceal the joint between the base l8 of the rim and-the flange 22 of the body part (Fig. 2). This joint normally constitutes a break in a continuous appearance of I a side wall of the wheel, and is usually an eyesore for the reason that it is a dirt-catcher. By covering this joint, which is designated by the numeral 33 in Figure 2,

I am enabled to materially enhance-the appearance of the wheel and to provide the wheel with a symmetric appearance which is more in accord with the streamline appointments of modern automotive vehicles;

A very important feature of my invention relates to the maintenance of the head 38 under compression when the disk is snapped into re- 4 tained engagement with the body part of the wheel. 1'ha-v is to say, this concealed yieldable or rubber cushioning member 30 is forcibly pressed into tight engagement with aside surface of the rim as the disk is snapped into a spring retained position over the outer side of the wheel,

thereby preventing any tendency of the disk to rattle on the wheel.

Attention is also directed to the fact that at the gap 33 in the rubber 30 and ring 32, the ends of the ring 32 are covered by a U-shaped clip 40 which is adapted to fit about the usual valve stem 39 of a tire which may be carried by the rim of the wheel. This feature is advantageously utilized in my structure, in that it serves as the means for centering. or positioning the disk with reference to the spring ele-' ments ll, so that the disk is properly aligned with these elements prior to' the act of shoving it into engagement therewith. Furthermore,

preventing rotation of the disk 28 relative tothe wheel.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noticed that the disk 28 is curved outwardly from the bead 30 alongside but spaced from the curved outer surface of the body part II. This curved portion terminates adjacent the center of the wheel in a depressed section or portion 4| which is shaped similarly to the skirt of a hub cap so as to fit overthe inclined surface 25 of the body part. This section 4| is also provided with a plurality of openings or slots 42 which are five in number so as to correspond with the number of springs l'l. Each of these slots is of a size to permit of the snapping of the hooked end 24 of the corresponding spring element therethrough, as will be evident from Figure 2.

The inwardly depressed section 4| terminates in a centrally formed bulged portion 43 whichthe axle part l8.

- this feature is advantageous in that it aids in In Figures 3 and 4, I have illustrated the manner in which my'novel disk is easily applied to and removed from the wheel. The first step in the processof applying the disk to the wheel is to line up the slots "with the side spring element s II. This is effected by fitting theclip 40, between the ends of the ornamental bead ring 32, about the stem 39 as shown in Figure 1.-

Then, with the disk disposed in the dotted line position-shown in Figure 3, it may thereafter be easily applied to the wheel by merely shoving or snapping it. axially of the wheel into. retained engagement with the spring elements [1. That is to 'say, the hook-like ends 24 of these sprlngelements I! are forced over the outer edges of slots 42,'so that each of these spring elements will thereafter. hold the depressed portion 4| of the disk tightly against the inclined surface 25 of the body part.

In order that the slots 42 as well as the outspring-elements may be concealed, I provide the depressed portion of the disk with a second ornamental ring 45 (Fig. 2) which is split and has its" inner peripheral edge turned at 46 to engage under tangs or fingers" blanked from the disk. When this bead ring 45 is snapped in position so that it is retained on the disk by the fingers 41, it conceals the depressed portion 4| of the disk, as well as the slots 42 and the ends of the fingers projecting therethrough.

'wardly projecting hook-like ends 24 of the As noted hereinbefore, the 'act of snapping the disk into its retained position on the wheel causes the rubber bead -30 to be pressed against an inner surface of the rim In between the flange I8 and the adjacent intermediate flange 19. This feature insures a rattleproof flt of the disk on the wheel.

The removal of the-disklfrom the wheel may be eifected as easily as the application of the disk to the wheel. In Figure 4 I have illustrated in dotted lines the position of the disk prior to its removal, and in full lines the position of the disk as it is being removed from the wheel by a prying tool inserted between the curved outer edge of the disk and the adjacent edge 20 of the rim. The prying tool is designated generally by the reference numeral 50, and may be in the form of a screwdriver, tire tool, or the like.

It should be noted that the outer curved edge of the disk is spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge 20 of the rim such a distance that the prying tool inserted between the edges may bear on the intermediate flange l9, which intermediate flange acts as a fulcrum point in the prying of the disk out of engagement with the hub part. Thus the disk may easily be pried loose fromthe wheel by a simple lever action. This lever action only requires that a slight pressure be exerted on theouter end of the prying tool sufficient to cause the disk to be moved from the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 to the full line position. This results in certain of the five spring elements I I being moved out of the corresponding slots 42 whereby the disk is ejected from cooperation with the inclined surface 25 of the body part by reason of the resiliency of the spring elements ll. During the process of pryingthe disk loose from its cooperation with the body part, the portion of the disk diametrically opposite the point of application of the prying tool also acts as a fulcrum point,

as will be evident from Figure 4. Thus, after the disk has been moved outwardly a certain extent so as to be disengaged from the spring elements in the half of the disk on the side. of the disk' that the prying tool is engaged with, the spring elements act to snap the disk clear of the body part in much the same way as a hub cap is snapped loose from a wheel hub. However, in removing a conventional hub cap, it is the practice to twist or turn the screwdriver or prying tool under the edge of the cap so as to get enough movement of the cap relative to the hub to enable it to be snapped clear of the hub. Also, it is not uncommon to progressively work the screwdriver around the hub cap during the act of prying it loose. Such an action, however, is not necessary in the prying loose of my wheel disk, since the location of the disk is such that ample leverage is provided when the prying tool is caused to bear on the intermediate flange of the rim. Obviously, the prying tool should not bear on the outer edge of the rim. since in that event the tire would constitute an obstacle in the path of the movement of the prying tool and would prevent the tool from being moved a suflicient extent to cause the disk to be pried off the wheel. By locating the disk as I have in the instant invention, I am enabled to get the full advantage of a simple leverage action, whereby a slight pressure suflices to forcibly eject the disk from the wheel. M

Before concluding this description of the flrst form of my invention, I should like to call attention to the fact that this disk, when in its retained, position, abuts the inclined surface 25 of the body part adjacent the center of the wheel so as to have a relatively fixed engagement therewith, but at its outer periphery or portion it has a cushioned or yieldable engagement with the rim, so asto prevent drumming and rattling.

In all forms of the invention, the spring retaining elements II, by reason of their spaced tight contacts with the central portion of the disk, are enabled to aid in preventing rotation of the disk relative tothe wheel, in addition to performing their intended function of holding the disk in position on the wheel.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the principal difference between that form and the previously described one resides in the construction of the disk at its place of cooperation with the spring elements I'I. Instead of using a depressed portion in this form, I use a separate ring or skirt 4| of metal which is suitably secured to the back side of the disk by means of welding. riveting, or the like. The inner edge of this disk is notched out as indicated at 42' to accommodate the hook-like ends 24 of the spring elements ll, so that these spring elements "can be effective to hold the central portion 4| pressed against the inclined surface 25 of the body part i I.

The outer portion of the disk 28' -is provided with the rubber'bead 30, but does not have an ornamental metal bead such as the bead 32 illustrated in Figure 2.

Since the operation of this device is substan-- tially the same as the one previously described, I will not here reiterate my previous description.

The only diflference between the form of the invention shown in Figure 6 and the one illustrated in Figure 2 relates to the shape of the free end-of each of the spring elements IT. The outermost extremity of the free ends of the spring elements I1 is bent in the form of a small hook so that the disk 28 may be engaged over the small hook, designated by the reference numeral 52, prior to the snapping of the disk into its retained position. I have illustrated in Fi ure 6 in dotted lines, the position of the disk after it has been placed over the hook-like ends 52 of the spring elements II, in which position the outer edge of each of the slots 42 embraces the hooked end of the corresponding spring element.

This feature is advantageous in that it enables the disk to be aligned with the wheel and held in such alignment by the spring elements themselves. Thereafter, both of the hands of the perdisk into its retained engagement.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated a modification in which the disk 28" is of a largerdiameter, and hence terminates closer to the associated intermediate flange I9 on the rim II. This structure is made possible by notching out both the bead ring 32' and the outer portion of the disk 28 as indicated at 54 and 55. By thus notching out the disk, I am enabled to provide proper clearance for the prying tool, so that said tool can bear on the flange l8 and yet not come in contact with the outer side wall of the tire as the prying force is applied to the disk.

In Figure '7, the disk 28 is provided with a separate hub cap 43, which is an integral part thereof, at the center of the disk instead of with a bulged portion 43. This structure is effected by providing the disk adjacent the center with an outwardly turned edge 6| which is formed around'the outer periphery of the hub cap 43 so as to cause the hub cap to be an integral component of the disk. The disk, however, is adapted son applying the disk may be used to shove the to be held in place on the wheel by means of the spring elements ll, the free ends 24 of which are adapted to be snapped over the edge of the hub instead ofa hub cap, I provide this disk at its center with a cap 43, secured inplace by a central bolt 63. The center of the disk has a curved rounded portion 64 which is secured to the back side of the cap by means of the bolt connection 63.

The surface of the cap 43 may be covered by a shell 65 having its outer periphery rolled over the edge of the cap 43 and formed to seat on a shoulder 66 in the. disk. This shell 65 may-be provided with a high grade finish and may be suitably ornamented, if it is so desired. Also, it may be provided with medallions, such as the name or shield used on the vehicle to which the wheel is applied. Thus the cap not only serves to conceal the depressed portion li and the ends 24 of the spring elements H, but also acts as a medium by which a'medallion or the like may be applied to the disk.

This form of disk is held in place by the spring elements II, which project through the apertures or slots 42 in the depressed section 41, in the same manner as was the case with the other described forms of the invention. Y

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction .may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I,

therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise thanlnecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a wheel including rim and body parts of an ornamental circular disk ofrelatively thin sheet material for disposition inside of the rim part over substantially the entire outer side of the wheel and held in cooperation with the rim part solely by a telescoping snap-on engagement with-the bodypart, said snap-on engagement being provided for by a concealed spring connection between the wheel body part and the central portion of said disk and which spring connection includes means to prevent rotation of the disk relatively to the wheel.

2. The combination with a wheel including rim and body parts of an ornamental unitary circular disk of relatively thin sheet material fordispm sitlon inside of the rim part over substantially the entire outer side of the wheel and held/in cooperation with the rim part solely by a snapon engagement with the body part, said body part having laterally projecting disk retaining spring means andsaid disk having its central area opposite the body part provided with an irrwardly projecting grooved portion into which said spring means is adapted to be snapped, said grooved portion being covered by an ornamental member disposed on and carried bythe outer side of the disk.

, 3'. The combination with a wheel including rim and body parts, of an ornamental disk of relatively thin sheet material for disposition inside ,of the rim part, said body part having laterally projecting disk retaining spring elements and said disk having a central portlonwith an opening therein for each of said elements and through which the free ends of said elements are adapted to be snapped, when the disk is shoved axially into position on the wheel, for retaining the disk in position with its outer edge adjacent the inner peripheral surface of the rim.

4. The combination with a wheel including rim and body parts, of an ornamental disk of relatively thin sheet material for dispositioninside of the rim part, said body part having laterally projecting disk retaining spring elements and said disk having an apertured central portion through which the free ends of said elements are adapted to be snapped, when the disk is shoved axially into position of the wheel, for retaining the disk in position with its outer edge adjacent the-inner peripheral surface of the rim, said disk carrying an ornamental memberdisposed on its outer side over its apertured central portion for concealing said spring means.

5. The combination with a wheel including rim and body parts, of an ornamental disk structure of relativelythin sheet material operable as a unit for disposition inside of the rim part, said body part having laterally projecting disk retaining spring elements and said disk having an apertured central portion through which the ments having their free ends formed with hook 'means for aiding in aligning the disk with the wheel prior to its being shoved axially into retained engagement with the wheel and which elements are concealed by a part of said disk structure.

' 6. The. combination with a wheel includin rim and body parts, of an ornamental disk of relatively thin sheet material for disposition in side of the rim part, said body part having laterally projecting diskretaining spring elements and said disk havingan apertured central portion through which the free ends of said elements are adapted to be snapped, when the disk is shoved axially into position on the wheel, for retaining the disk in position with its outer edge adjacent the inner peripheral surface of the rim,

said spring elements being concealed by an initially separate central' hub cap secured to and comprising substantially an integral part of the unitary disk.

I. An ornamental wheel disk for disposition over the outer side surface of a vehicle wheel in cooperation with the wheel in contact with the wheel rim, saiddisk having an inwardly extending flange portion with an edge over and behind which the free ends of spaced retaining springs extending in an axial direction from the wheel the wheel at the rim of the wheel, said disk including a flange portion projecting rearwardly from the inner side of said disk and having an edge over and behind which the free ends of said elements may be forced. I

9. ornamental wheel diskv for disposition over the side surface of a vehicle wheel in contact with a radial flange of the rim of the wheel,

said disk having a central crown portion and an annular curved outer portion, both portions being substantially imperforate, and said disk having on its inner side an inwardly extending annular flange portion located adjacent the junction of said crown andouter portions with a reinforced free edge over and behind which the free ends of spring retaining elements extending in an axial direction from said wheel may beforced. 10. In combination, a vehicle wheel including a rim and a body part, an ornamental disk for disposition over the outer side surface of said wheel in cooperation with the wheel adjacent the rim of the wheel, and spring retaining elements carried by the central portion of said body part and having free portions of substantially a goose-neck shape extending generally in the direction of the axis of said wheel for engagement with said disk, the shape of said elements urging said disk into contact with the wheel 11. In combination, a vehicle wheel including a rim and a body part, an ornamental disk for disposition over the side surface of said wheel, said disk having an inwardly projecting flange on the inner side thereof, said flange having an edge defining an opening, and spaced spring retaining elements carried by said body part and having free portions extending in the general direction of the wheel axis and engageable with said flange to hold said disk on the wheel in contact with the side portion of the rim of the wheel. a e

12. As an article of manufacture, an omamental disk for disposition over the side surface of a vehicle wheel, including a pair of initially separate sheet metalmembers welded together and arranged to cover substantially the entire outer side surface of a vehicle wheel, one of said members having a central aperture and extending axially inwardly around the aperture to receive spring retaining means carried by the wheel, and the other of said members bellying axially outwardly in the region of said aperture so that portions of the retaining means may extend between said members and be concealed by the outer member.

13. In combination, a wheel having rim and 14. In combination, a vehicle wheel including a tire, a rim and a body part, a valve stem projecting substantially laterally through said rim,

therebetween surrounding an aperture in the inner disk part through which said retaining means may extend into said groove, the outer of said disk parts overlying said aperture and concealing said retaining means.

15. As an article of manufacture, an ornamentaldisk for disposition over the side surface of a vehicle wheel carrying resilient retaining means, said disk having an apertured portion for the reception of said retaining means, and an initially separate cap member concealing said retaining means and including a pair of overlying parts of which the inner is recessed to accommodate securing means fastening said cap member to said disk and the outer part of said cap member concealing said securing means.

16. In combination, a vehicle wheel member including a multi-flanged rim part including substantially radially and axially extending side flanges and an axially extending base flange and a wheel body part connected to said base flange, an ornamental cover member for disposition on the outer side of said wheel member, andflexible spring retaining means extending generally both axially and. radially outward and carried by said wheel member and engageable with the other of said members to hold said cover member on said wheel member, said cover member having an [outer peripheral edge reinforced to resist indentation by a pry-off tool and overlapping and in close proximity to one of said substantially radially extending side flanges of said rim part but spaced inwardly a substantial distance from an adjoining substantially axially extending flange of said rim part so as to be adjacent said base flange to permit the insertion of a prying tool between said edge and said radial flange and the fulcruming of the tool on said rim member to force the cover member off of the wheel member, said spring means applying a'retaining force in an inclined plane at such an angle to the plane of the wheel as to be deflected by the prying action to cook the cover member and to thus aid in ejecting the cover member from the wheel member after a predetermined prying movement.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

